ABSTRACT
In 1962, a French historian named Philippe Aries published a book titled Centuries of Childhood. A dramatic demonstration of the influence of ministers' beliefs occurred in colonial America, where the Puritan ministers subscribed to the view that all children were tainted by original sin. The writings of philosophers have long been a primary source of beliefs about the nature of development and child rearing. Biologists, physicians, educators, anthropologists, sociologists, and social workers have all contributed to the creation of a science of child psychology and child rearing. One primary source of ideas is personal experience with children; some of the advice givers were parents, although many were not. To understand child rearing, it is necessary to acknowledge and account for change in parenting. Dealing with the competing needs of a child or of different individuals is fundamental dynamic of parenting.
